Ronnie Hillman took a recruiting trip to Fresno State back when he was looking for a place to land out of high school. Trouble was, the Bulldogs wanted him to play wide receiver instead of running back.

You have to wonder what Fresno State head coach Pat Hill was thinking after seeing Hillman run in college for the first time in person and completely shred his defense. With 178 yards rushing and four touchdowns, Hillman was the difference-maker in the Aztecs’ 35-28 victory at Qualcomm Stadium.

The last of his three 2-yard touchdowns came with 1:09 left in the game. Hillman also had an 18-yard run on the winning drive.

It’s proven that if Hillman has a big game, the Aztecs usually win. This was the 11th time in his two seasons that Hillman has rushed for more than 150 yards, and SDSU is 9-2 in those games.

Hillman would have had five touchdowns, but he was stopped cold on a fourth-down effort at the goal line late in the first quarter.

"Ronnie Hillman is a good back, a good player; he made some good plays," Hill allowed.

Between plays, Hillman sometimes limped slightly from the ankle injury he suffered Nov. 12. But he looked perfectly healthy when the ball was in his hands. He bounced outside to the left and scored a 20-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and he made a couple of bullish 2-yard runs in the third quarter for scores. The latter was set up by his own 68-yard sprint.

Among the milestone’s Hillman achieved in the game:

-- His 1,656 yards this season is more than Aztecs great Marshall Faulk rushed for in any one of his three seasons at SDSU.

-- His 36 career touchdowns rank him second on the all-time TD list behind Faulk's 62.

-- His nine games this season with 100 yards or more ties the team record for most in a single campaign, set by George Jones ‘95.

'Terrible' call

On Fresno State's tying drive in the fourth quarter, Aztecs linebacker Jake Fely was called for a personal foul while tackling Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr as he tried unsuccessfully to scramble for a first down. Replays showed a clean tackle, other than Fely swiping at, but missing Fely with his forearm.

The penalty gave the Bulldogs a first down at the SDSU 5 and they scored two plays later.

"They don't explain themselves," Long said of the officials. "You want to know my opinion? Terrible call. I can't believe it. ... They're making it so we can't play football anymore. That's ridiculous."

Rouse stuffed

Former Madison High standout Robbie Rouse was held in check by the Aztecs in his first game in Qualcomm since the 2008 CIF Division IV championship game.

The junior running back was held to a 2.8-yard average, carrying 20 times for only 56 yards. He scored one touchdown, tying the game at 28 on a 2-yarder early in the fourth quarter.

Playing catch-up

The Aztecs know how to dig themselves an early hole in a game, but spotting Fresno State 21 points, only to come back, was an extremely rare occurrence for SDSU.

In 498 Division I games, the Aztecs had only overcome 21-point deficits two others times – against Fresno State in 1974 and Wyoming in 2003.

It was the second straight game the Aztecs were down 14-0, and the last time that happened was in losses in October, 1985. This time, they won both games.

"I don't think we do it on purpose," cornerback Larry Parker said with a smile. "It just happens. We just have fighters on the team."

Escobar has big game

Aztecs sophomore tight end Gavin Escobar had his biggest game of the season, and one play stood out.

The lanky Escobar took a third-quarter screen pass from Ryan Lindley, found a seam and raced 55 yards to the Fresno State 14. Hillman scored two plays later to give the Aztecs their first lead of the game, 28-21.

"I saw a lot of green grass and just started running," Escobar said.

Escobar was one of three receivers to catch six passes. His yardage was 125, surpassing his previous best yardage this season of 113 against Boise State.

Notable

--On his first completion of the game Lindley surpassed 12,000 career passing yards. He’s the only quarterback to do so in school or Mountain West history. After throwing for 281 yards in the game, Lindley stands at 12,277.

--With two sacks, senior linebacker Miles Burris moved into fourth all-time on SDSU’s career sacks list with 19.

-- Parker's interception to seal the win was his seventh of the season.